What is it with puzzle platformers and dreams this month? First we had Lucidity from Lucasarts and now Axel & Pixel from 2K and Silver Wish in which you chase a demonic rat through a dream that spans the four seasons.

Where Lucidity is all about choosing your own path, Axel & Pixel is about finding the path already predetermined for you and solving the puzzle of how to proceed. Along the way there’s some hidden object elements and some action sequences that turn into minigames (driving, hot air ballooning and sailing).

The art style is very reminiscent of Terry Gilliam. In fact I would swear someone on the design team was a big fan of his Monty Python era. The game blends fairly realistic elements with very surrealistic elements and puts them together in an eye-pleasing mix to create their dream world. Unlike some games, they do not always give you visual clues as to what might be available to you in each level - enter the hidden object elements. Generally you can see everything you need and just have to find the proper sequence of events to get it all accomplished. I even went back on one level just to pick up a special item.

There are a few things you’re seeking, aside from a way out of the dream, along the way which include bones for Pixel, tubes of paint and sketches for the Axel or is it the other way around? It’s sort of a Rosencrantz and Guildenstern thing there.

If you get bored solving the puzzles you can always hop out and play the minigames which I mentioned before. Of course you can only do that once you’ve passed the specific level in which the action takes place. So no driving in their own personal Warthog-esque automobile until you’ve done so in the story mode. It makes you want to keep playing.

Axel and Pixel also has leaderboards for the mini-games as well which makes you want to go back and do better (that’s read as replayability). The designers did a good job of making each level its own and not rehashing things from scene to scene. The sprinkling of action levels also really helps this maintain attention. Though admittedly, I hate the sailing level because it’s plain frustrating.

The sound is also quite well done. Everything generally has some sound effect that you woudl expect it to have and the soundtrack is soothing and fitting for the game, a sort of ambient piano tune plays in the background as you contemplate your next move.

Overall it’s an interesting and entertaining take on the genre and I think if you like this might like Lucidity and vice versa. As always, check out the trials before you buy. This one is rated E for Everyone and says ’crude humor’ according to the ESRB, I think they need to redefine what they think is crude.